Tamil Nadu govt sets up medical camps to check diseases

CHENNAI: After nearly a week of heavy rain, the clouds may have cleared but the state health department is still jittery. Their work has just begun.

On Sunday, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami inaugurated medical camps in Chennai and the suburbs. Health officials say although there has been no major outbreak of water-borne infections so far, the department has sent teams to the field to conduct inspections, chlorinate water and remove potential breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

For the past one week, 512 medical camps were held in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, benefitting around 33,000 people, the government said in a statement. Around 200 mobile medical teams were added to the existing fleet of 400. Director of public health K Kolandaisamy said although the incidence of dengue has gone down —with the rain washing away breeding grounds — it could go up again as water remains collected in discarded articles. "We have asked our teams to map the disease profile in all areas. We are on the lookout for cases of diarrhoea and fever, which could be an indicator of typhoid, dengue or leptospirosis," said Kolandaisamy.

Teams have also been instructed to inspect public water supply. In addition to the 3,000 medical teams, the state government has also deputed 25 teams of Siddha practitioners to help provide medical relief.

All Comments ()+^ Back to Top

Characters Remaining: 3000

Continue without login

or

Login from existing account

FacebookGoogleEmail

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.